A company director stole the identities of vets to get drugs.
Hooked on painkillers and tranquilisers, Ryan Curtis researched medics and then used their identities to forge prescriptions.
He then sold drugs to an insomnia sufferer who met him online, but was caught after pharmacists across Greater Manchester became suspicious of the quantities of diazepam, codeine and zopiclone he was obtaining.
The medics whose names he was using - from the UK and Austria - were questioned and told investigators they had no knowledge of the prescriptions.
The Stalybridge home Curtis shared with his 33-year-old partner, Natalie Lewis and their two children was raided and officers recovered a computer containing a label printing programme, along with labels relating to prescriptions from a fake medic called ‘GoDoc.’
Now Curtis, who ran an aerial photography firm, has been jailed for two years and eight months after he pleading guilty to fraud by false representation, making articles for the use of fraud and supply of class C Drugs.
Natalie Lewis, who had presented prescriptions on her partner Curtis’ behalf, admitted deception and was given a three-year conditional discharge after a judge said her role was minimal.
Minshull Street Crown Court heard Curtis presented 34 faked prescriptions - using stamps and holograms ordered from the internet to make them look genuine.
He also created an identity card in the name of Dr Curtis - purporting to be a veterinary surgeon. He had become addicted to prescription drugs after suffering back problems and anxiety, the court heard.
Prosecuting, Andrew Mackintosh said: “Curtis set up a scheme to obtain class B and C drugs using fraudulent vet prescriptions and matters came to light following presentation of a number of prescriptions initially at a pharmacy in Oldham.”
Mr Mackintosh went on to describe how Natalie Lewis had repeatedly presented prescriptions for diazepam, codeine and zopiclone, on visits days apart, in November and December 2013, with Curtis also presenting prescriptions for human growth hormone.
“The pharmacy became concerned about these prescriptions and on the 31st of December, Curtis attended the pharmacy and police were alerted. These prescriptions were from a number of different veterinary practices”, the prosecutor added.
Chudi Grant, defending Curtis, said: “He has had a back problem for a number of years going back eight or nine years and also suffers anxiety and it was for this reason that he was prescribed medication. His use of prescribed medication increased and that has spiralled out of control.”
Sentencing Curtis, Judge Mark Savill told him: “Due to your own difficulties with obtaining pain medication you came across the idea of forging a number of veterinary drug prescriptions and then presented them at pharmacies obtaining the drugs and using them or selling them on.
“You have made a significant number of sophisticated false prescriptions relating to class B and C drugs in relation to animals. They involved a number of false veterinary practises and three genuine doctors who you had searched for and used their details.
“Given the level of sophistication and how long it went on for, these offences are so serious that only a custodial sentence can be imposed.”
